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Requirement

Title

Information definition

Identifier

SWIM-SERV-022

Requirement

A service description shall describe the elements of the exchanged information including:

  • the name of the element;
  • the definition of the element;
  • the cardinality applicable to the element, including whether the element is optional, conditional or mandatory in the exchange;
  • constraints applicable to the element, such as:
    • datatype;
    • value ranges;
    • special values;
    • character set restrictions;
  • the semantic correspondence of the element with the AIRM; and
  • the structure and relevant relationships between the elements.

Rationale

This requirement ensures that the precise meaning of the exchanged information is shared by all parties of the information exchange.

Verification

Completeness: Verify that the service description describes all elements of the exchanged information and that the required details are provided.

Consistency: Verify that the elements are consistent with each other and with the AIRM concepts used in the semantic correspondence.

Correctness: Not Applicable.

Examples/Notes

Note: The service description must describe all elements of the exchanged information at all levels, down from the service operation parameters to attributes and data types.

Note: It is best practice to base the information definition  on the requirements found in the EUROCONTROL Specification for SWIM Information Definition [RD 2], ensuring that it contains the extra details required by this requirement.

Note: The information definition can be provided by reference, for example when using an AIRM conformant standardised information exchange models, such as Aeronautical Information Exchange Model (AIXM) [RD 15] and ICAO Meteorological Information Exchange Model (IWXXM) [RD 16].  

Level of Implementation

Mandatory

Guidance

This requirements sets out the minimum detail needed to describe each element of the information that is exchanged. For example, if the exchange involves information about "aerodromes" the "aerodrome" element type should be described. This means the element type should be given a name, a description, etc based on the bulleted list in the requirement. The result is called an information definition.

Most of the details required are self-explanatory. The semantic correspondence of the element type with the AIRM is established following the requirements found in the Guidance on semantic correspondence section of the SWIM Information Definition Handbook.

The information definition should be complete, covering all of the element types that are exchanged, including a definition of service operation parameters, attributes and data types. However, the information definition can be provided in several ways e.g.:

  • embedded into the service description
  • by reference to an external document
  • by reference to a standardised information exchange model.

Regardless of the option chosen, SWIM-SERV-023 AIRM conformance requires that the service description contains a statement on its AIRM conformance. This requirement affects SWIM-SERV-022; the information definition shall follow the semantic correspondence requirements in the EUROCONTROL Specification for SWIM Information Definition in order to provide evidence of its AIRM conformance.

Best Practice

It is best practice to base the information definition on the requirements found in the EUROCONTROL Specification for SWIM Information Definition, ensuring that it also contains the extra details required by this requirement.

The EUROCONTROL Specification for SWIM Information Definition requires less detail to be provided for each element type: SWIM-INFO-007 Information definition concepts requires only a name, definition and (if needed) a data type.

However, the specification also goes beyond what is asked for by the EUROCONTROL Specification for SWIM Service Description. For example, it requires that each element type has a unique identifier (SWIM-INFO-008 Unique identifiers for concepts) and a dedicated namespace.

Examples

See the Information Definition section within the Donlon TOBT Setting Service Description.

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